Quiberon
Encyclopedia
Quiberon is a commune
in the Morbihan
department in Brittany in north-western France
.
It is situated on the southern part of the Quiberon peninsula, the northern part being the commune of Saint-Pierre-Quiberon
. It is primarily known as a seaside resort for French tourists during summer, and for its history of sardine production.
During the Seven Years War the bay was the site of the Battle of Quiberon Bay
between the French and British fleets. In the French Revolution
, in July 1795 Quiberon was used by French Royalist exiles, with assistance from the British
, as the base for a failed invasion
of Brittany (traditionally a royalist area). The invasion was defeated by the Revolutionaries under general Lazare Hoche
.
In the 19th century, Nicolas Appert, a chemist, developed a technique that permitted the sterilization
of food. Thanks to this process, Quiberon became the leading harbour for sardine
fishing and the production of canned sardines in France. Many families from the Finistère
département migrated to Quiberon for the fishing season (May to October). When the men put out to sea, the women worked in the sardine can factories.
The railway between Auray
and Quiberon was inaugurated in 1882. It deeply changed Quiberon's inhabitants' way of life. Fishing, canning and the exploitation of seaweed has been replaced by tourism. At that time, some famous people went to Quiberon for a stay, including the writers Gustave Flaubert
and Anatole France
, and the actress Sarah Bernhardt
. The year 1924 was important for the peninsula because it was classified as health resort. Now, the main resources for Quiberon come from tourism.
During the Second World War, the fort at the narrow isthmus
(see photo) was occupied by the Germans and incorporated into the Atlantic Wall
. It housed various blockhouses, but was mainly used by the infantry. In July 1944, 59 resistance fighters
were tortured and buried alive there. A pillar mounted on a Cross of Lorraine stands there in memory of them. Although the fort is still of military importance (as a training base), a gallery (tunnel) where the bodies were discovered can be visited.
, Cornwall
, UK Kempten
, Bavaria
, Germany
, since 1971 (initially with the municipality St. Mang) Le Grand Bornand, Haute-Savoie
, France
, since 1997
team operating within the fictional Harry Potter universe
. The Quiberon Quafflepunchers team members players wear shocking-pink robes.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Morbihan
Morbihan
Morbihan is a department in Brittany, situated in the northwest of France. It is named after the Morbihan , the enclosed sea that is the principal feature of the coastline.-History:...
department in Brittany in north-western France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
It is situated on the southern part of the Quiberon peninsula, the northern part being the commune of Saint-Pierre-Quiberon
Saint-Pierre-Quiberon
Saint-Pierre-Quiberon is a commune in the Morbihan department of Brittany in north-western France.The commune occupies the northern part of the Quiberon peninsula, that it shares with the commune Quiberon.-Transport:...
. It is primarily known as a seaside resort for French tourists during summer, and for its history of sardine production.
History
Battle of Quiberon Bay
The naval Battle of Quiberon Bay took place on 20 November 1759 during the Seven Years' War in Quiberon Bay, off the coast of France near St. Nazaire...
between the French and British fleets. In the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, in July 1795 Quiberon was used by French Royalist exiles, with assistance from the British
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
, as the base for a failed invasion
Invasion of France (1795)
The invasion of France in 1795 or the Battle of Quiberon was a major landing on the Quiberon peninsula by émigré, counter-revolutionary troops in support of the Chouannerie and Vendée Revolt, beginning on 23 June and finally definitively repulsed on 21 July...
of Brittany (traditionally a royalist area). The invasion was defeated by the Revolutionaries under general Lazare Hoche
Lazare Hoche
Louis Lazare Hoche was a French soldier who rose to be general of the Revolutionary army.Born of poor parents near Versailles, he enlisted at sixteen as a private soldier in the Gardes Françaises...
.
In the 19th century, Nicolas Appert, a chemist, developed a technique that permitted the sterilization
Sterilization (microbiology)
Sterilization is a term referring to any process that eliminates or kills all forms of microbial life, including transmissible agents present on a surface, contained in a fluid, in medication, or in a compound such as biological culture media...
of food. Thanks to this process, Quiberon became the leading harbour for sardine
Sardine
Sardines, or pilchards, are several types of small, oily fish related to herrings, family Clupeidae. Sardines are named after the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, around which they were once abundant....
fishing and the production of canned sardines in France. Many families from the Finistère
Finistère
Finistère is a département of France, in the extreme west of Brittany.-History:The name Finistère derives from the Latin Finis Terræ, meaning end of the earth, and may be compared with Land's End on the opposite side of the English Channel...
département migrated to Quiberon for the fishing season (May to October). When the men put out to sea, the women worked in the sardine can factories.
The railway between Auray
Auray
Auray is a commune located in the Morbihan department of Brittany in France. Inhabitants of Auray are called Alréens.-Geography:The city is surrounded by the communes of Crac'h to the south and west, Brech to the north and Pluneret to the east. It is crossed by the Loch, a small coastal river...
and Quiberon was inaugurated in 1882. It deeply changed Quiberon's inhabitants' way of life. Fishing, canning and the exploitation of seaweed has been replaced by tourism. At that time, some famous people went to Quiberon for a stay, including the writers Gustave Flaubert
Gustave Flaubert
Gustave Flaubert was a French writer who is counted among the greatest Western novelists. He is known especially for his first published novel, Madame Bovary , and for his scrupulous devotion to his art and style.-Early life and education:Flaubert was born on December 12, 1821, in Rouen,...
and Anatole France
Anatole France
Anatole France , born François-Anatole Thibault, , was a French poet, journalist, and novelist. He was born in Paris, and died in Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire. He was a successful novelist, with several best-sellers. Ironic and skeptical, he was considered in his day the ideal French man of letters...
, and the actress Sarah Bernhardt
Sarah Bernhardt
Sarah Bernhardt was a French stage and early film actress, and has been referred to as "the most famous actress the world has ever known". Bernhardt made her fame on the stages of France in the 1870s, and was soon in demand in Europe and the Americas...
. The year 1924 was important for the peninsula because it was classified as health resort. Now, the main resources for Quiberon come from tourism.
During the Second World War, the fort at the narrow isthmus
Isthmus
An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas usually with waterforms on either side.Canals are often built through isthmuses where they may be particularly advantageous to create a shortcut for marine transportation...
(see photo) was occupied by the Germans and incorporated into the Atlantic Wall
Atlantic Wall
The Atlantic Wall was an extensive system of coastal fortifications built by Nazi Germany between 1942 and 1944 along the western coast of Europe as a defense against an anticipated Allied invasion of the mainland continent from Great Britain.-History:On March 23, 1942 Führer Directive Number 40...
. It housed various blockhouses, but was mainly used by the infantry. In July 1944, 59 resistance fighters
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
were tortured and buried alive there. A pillar mounted on a Cross of Lorraine stands there in memory of them. Although the fort is still of military importance (as a training base), a gallery (tunnel) where the bodies were discovered can be visited.
Monuments
- Église Notre-Dame de Locmaria, 19th century chapel
- Prehistoric site
- Museum of History and traditions : La maison du Patrimoine
- Musée de la mer (Museum of the sea)
- Monument to the Battle of Quiberon between the Revolutionaries and Royalists
Transport
- Quiberon railway station has a service to AurayAurayAuray is a commune located in the Morbihan department of Brittany in France. Inhabitants of Auray are called Alréens.-Geography:The city is surrounded by the communes of Crac'h to the south and west, Brech to the north and Pluneret to the east. It is crossed by the Loch, a small coastal river...
, which offers connections to Paris and other places in France.- Gare de Saint-Pierre-QuiberonGare de Saint-Pierre-QuiberonSaint-Pierre-Quiberon is a railway station in Saint-Pierre-Quiberon, Brittany, France. The station was opened on 23 July 1882, and is located on the Auray - Quiberon railway line...
- Gare de KerhostinGare de KerhostinKerhostin is a railway station in Quiberon, Brittany, France. The station was opened on 23 July 1882, and is located on the Auray - Quiberon railway line. The station is served by TER services operated by the SNCF.-Train Services:...
- Halte de L'IsthmeHalte de L'IsthmeL'Isthme is a railway station in Quiberon, Brittany, France. The station is located on the Auray - Quiberon railway line. The station is served by TER services operated by the SNCF.-Train services:The following services currently call at L'Isthme:...
- Gare de PenthièvreGare de PenthièvrePenthièvre is a railway station in Quiberon, Brittany, France. The station was opened on 23 July 1882, and is located on the Auray - Quiberon railway line. The station is served by TER services operated by the SNCF.-Train services:...
- Halte Les-Sables-BlancsHalte Les-Sables-BlancsLes Sables-Blancs is a railway station in Brittany, France. The station is located on the Auray - Quiberon railway line. The station is served by TER services operated by the SNCF.-Train services:...
- Gare de Saint-Pierre-Quiberon
Twinning
LooeLooe
Looe is a small coastal town, fishing port and civil parish in the former Caradon district of south-east Cornwall, England, with a population of 5,280 . Looe is divided in two by the River Looe, East Looe and West Looe being connected by a bridge...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, UK Kempten
Kempten
Kempten can refer to:* Kempten im Allgäu, a town in Bavaria, Germany* Kempten ZH, a district of the town of Wetzikon in the canton of Zurich, Switzerland* Kempton Park, Gauteng, a city in South Africa which was named after Kempten in Bavaria...
, Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, since 1971 (initially with the municipality St. Mang) Le Grand Bornand, Haute-Savoie
Haute-Savoie
Haute-Savoie is a French department in the Rhône-Alpes region of eastern France. It borders both Switzerland and Italy. The capital is Annecy. To the north is Lake Geneva and Switzerland; to the south and southeast are the Mont Blanc and Aravis mountain ranges and the French entrance to the Mont...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, since 1997
Use in popular culture
Quiberon is the home of a professional QuidditchQuidditch
Quidditch is a fictional sport developed by British author J. K. Rowling for the Harry Potter series of novels. It is described as an extremely rough, but very popular, semi-contact sport, played by wizards and witches around the world...
team operating within the fictional Harry Potter universe
Harry Potter universe
The fictional universe of J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series of fantasy novels comprises two separate and distinct societies: the wizarding world and the Muggle world...
. The Quiberon Quafflepunchers team members players wear shocking-pink robes.